Kapil Dev appears in court, demands pensions for ICL players

New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) Former India captain Kapil Dev appeared in the Delhi High Court Friday and urged that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) be directed to release the pension due to him and other players who joined the rival Indian Cricket League (ICL).Kapil Dev appeared before the court registrar for a hearing but the BCCI sought an adjournment, saying that the Mumbai terror attack and then uncertainty till last week over the Test series against England had left it with no time to prepare for the case.

On this, Kapil Dev accused the BCCI of adopting delaying tactics, saying it was more concerned about the England tour than the plight of the former cricketers who had served the nation.

“BCCI is not concerned about cricketers who served the nation but shows more concern about the (ongoing) series between India and England,” Kapil Dev said, adding: “I just seek that the pensions of my colleagues be released. They are suffering due to the board’s action.”

“The board keeps taking dates and the proceedings are being delayed due to this,” the former captain said.

The BCCI, however, refuted the allegations and contended that this was the first time that an adjournment has been sought in the matter.

The registrar, after hearing the arguments of ICL promoter Essel Sports Pvt Ltd and the BCCI, adjourned the cross-examination of six witnesses, including Kapil Dev and former BCCI selector Kiran More and fixed Jan 16 as the next date of hearing.

The cricketer had filed a case against BCCI for stopping the pension due to him.

Kapil Dev, who fell out of favour with the authorities following his decision to back the Indian Cricket League (ICL) has argued that a player should not be denied pension for services rendered just because he sides with what the BCCI has termed a “rebel” venture.